verb [VN] [oftenpassive]
1 ~ sb (for sth) to treat sb in a cruel and unfair way, especially because of their race, religion or political beliefs:
Throughout history, people have been persecuted for their religious beliefs. * persecuted minorities
2 to deliberately annoy sb all the time and make their life unpleasant:
Why are the media persecuting him like this?
persecution noun [U,C]:
the victims of religious persecution * They fled to Europe to escape persecution.
